General Secretariat of the United Arab Media Council
Announces Sharjah the Capital of Arab Press for Year 2016

By: Aziz Al-Mosawi

Amman - Jordan

General
Secretariat of the United Arab Media Council (UAMC) announced electing Sharjah
the Capital of Arab Press for the year 2016. The announcement resulted from the
meeting of the General Secretariat of the United Arab Media Council in Amman –
Jordan and based on several benchmarks, which included the development of media
in the emirate, the establishment of the Sharjah Media City (SMC) Free Zone, in
addition to the promotion of cultural and intellectual content of media
material, and the prominent support of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin
Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for many of
the media initiatives and different creative projects. Today, Sharjah is
elected as the capital of Arab press; succeeding the capitals that have been
elected in the previous years (2012 Manama –Riyadh 2013 – Jerusalem 2014-2015.

The
Secretary General of the United Arab Media Council (UAMC) Haitham Youssef
pointed out the great development and significant advancement in the media
sector; especially what has been achieved by Sharjah Media Centre – headed by
His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. Youssef also revealed
the motto of – Sharjah the Capital of the Arab Press for 2016, which will be;
(My culture is the essence of my profession – Media is the foundation of
Society). This confirms the necessity of cultural content in form and context
in mass media. He also announced that the allocated agenda of events for the
Capital of the Arab Press 2016 has been finalized in partnership with the
Sharjah Media Center.

Dr.
Salim Sharif, Chairman of the Committee of Standards and Capitals Election
stated, “The choice of the Emirate of Sharjah comes within the Council’s plans
– which aims to activate communication between the Arab media institutions on
the one hand, and interaction between journalists on the other hand.

He
pointed out that the great cooperation of the Emirate of Sharjah represented by
Sharjah Media Center, gave a great impression for the UAMC in terms of the
attention and keenness of fellow journalists in the United Arab Emirates. He
also highlighted the willingness of its government to provide a new formation
that keeps pace with the aspirations and prospects, in line with the vision of
His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member
and Ruler of Sharjah. This election also depended on the competency benchmarks
and media cadres in the emirate, and a productive infrastructure for
establishing a competitive free media city.

The
Secretary-General added that he will be honored to transfer the banner of
Sharjah the Capital of Arab Press 2016 from Jerusalem, the capital of occupied
Palestine, to handle it to His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al
Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on 20th of March 2016, on
the sidelines of the Government Communication Forum; organized annually by
Sharjah Media Center. A press conference will follow this launch that will take
place between His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairman
of Sharjah Media Center – Chairman of the Supreme Committee of Sharjah the
Capital of the Arab Press 2016, and Haitham Yousef, Secretary General of the
United Arab Media Council (UAMC) – General Coordinator of the events of Sharjah
the Capital of the Arab Press 2016.